Eight Weeks of Art & Discovery: An Interview with Tobias Nilsson
A few weeks ago, we had the chance to sit down with one of the students in the 8-Week Immersion Course, Tobias Nilsson. This is the first in a series of interviews with some of the people who study in the workshops at The Florence Academy of Art / Sweden. If you want to check out Tobias' work, you’ll find him on Instagram at @tobiasritar.
Eight Weeks of Art & Discovery: An Interview with Tobias Nilsson
A few weeks ago, we had the chance to sit down with one of the students in the 8-Week Immersion Course, Tobias Nilsson. This is the first in a series of interviews with some of the people who study in the workshops at The Florence Academy of Art / Sweden. If you want to check out Tobias' work, you’ll find him on Instagram at @tobiasritar.
Hi Tobias, and thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions! Want to start by telling us a little about yourself?
— Hey! Sure, I’m a middle-aged game developer. I’ve worked as an artist and Art Director in the gaming industry for over 15 years. I have a wife and two kids, and I enjoy spending time with family and friends, working on old cars, watching sci-fi, playing video games, and listening to music. I also love mountain biking—especially speeding downhill through the woods—and working on various small art projects. Right now, I’m making a larger sculpture in Super Sculpey, a type of polymer clay that hardens in the oven.
How did you find your way to FAA/Sweden?
— I went to school with Andreas Birath back in the day, so I found out about the academy in Mölndal after he trained in Florence and started the school here. A couple of years ago, I convinced my employer to pay for some evening courses, and after that, I took a summer course. I’ve wanted to do the full program for a long time, but with family and work, I never really had the time.
Did you have any prior experience with similar studies before starting the 8-week program?
— Not really, apart from the summer course in figure painting.
How was it getting started? Socially and everything?
— It went great. Everyone is super nice and friendly. I would’ve happily extended the course for another eight weeks.
What about the exercises? Have they worked for you? Are you getting what you came here for?
— Absolutely. You’re kind of forced into a craft-focused mindset, which is great—at least for me. A methodology that I hope to take home with me. Having a structured approach to fall back on, you know? Plus, not rushing results so much.
I got into this almost meditative state while sculpting out charcoal drawings, for example. I felt pretty comfortable with most things until we started mixing oil colors. That was frustrating—I couldn’t get it the way I wanted, especially when we started painting portraits from a model. But I got a lot of great tips, like pushing the colors more than what you actually see.
You’ve been in the 8-week program for five weeks now. What’s been the most unexpected thing so far?
— That Giacomo’s art history lectures would be so interesting, haha. He’s amazing. Otherwise, maybe just how incredibly nice and humble everyone is. Not that I necessarily expected the opposite, but… yeah. Just a really great atmosphere overall.
If you had to describe a project you worked on and how it changed something in your process, what would it be?
— Learning to break things down and simplify when we did master studies. Looking at the whole picture, taking it one step at a time, and not rushing.
Describe a typical day in the 8-week course for someone who’s never been here.
— I get in just before 9 AM. Have some coffee and chat with the teachers and classmates. Start working on the projects, get into the zone, and suddenly it’s lunchtime. Hang out on the couch, talk a bit more. Then back to the projects. Get feedback from the teacher. Check out what everyone else is working on. Repeat.
What are you most proud of so far?
— Two master studies in charcoal. Still working on getting into oil painting.
Thanks for this, Tobias. Anything you’d like to add? You get the last word.
— It’s been an amazing experience, and like I said, I would’ve happily stayed for another eight weeks. Now I just have to make sure I use what I’ve learned and keep going at home.
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March 7, 2024
March 7, 2024
